What we see in clinic

At The Children's Naturopath, we see children experiencing ongoing loose stools, recurring diarrhoea and digestive symptoms that can be difficult for parents to understand.

Drawing on over 28 years of clinical experience, we pay particular attention to stool consistency, digestive history, food intolerances and changes in bowel habits following illness or antibiotic use.

One of the first questions we ask parents is: "What does your child's stool look like, and has it always been this way?" This helps us understand whether loose stools are a recent development or a longstanding digestive pattern.

Persistent diarrhoea in a child needs medical assessment — particularly where there is blood, weight loss, poor growth or signs of dehydration. See your child's doctor first; what follows is about what we look at alongside that care.

Why stool appearance matters

An important observation in clinic is that the appearance of a child's stool can provide useful information about digestive health. We ask parents to look beyond how frequently their child empties their bowels and consider the consistency and appearance of each stool.

For example, we may investigate:

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  Watery stools that occur several times daily.

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  Loose, unformed stools that have become normal for the child.

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  Mucus appearing in bowel movements.

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  Undigested food regularly appearing in stools.

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  Alternating periods of constipation and loose stools.

Mucus can occur with intestinal irritation or inflammation, while persistent loose stools may indicate that food is moving through the digestive tract too quickly, or that nutrients are not being absorbed effectively.

Could food intolerances be contributing?

One area we frequently investigate is whether particular foods are contributing to digestive symptoms. Dairy is an important consideration, particularly when a child develops loose stools following gastroenteritis.

After a digestive infection, some children temporarily produce less lactase, the enzyme required to digest lactose in milk. This can lead to loose stools, bloating, excessive wind and abdominal discomfort.

We also explore whether wheat or other frequently consumed foods appear to be associated with symptoms. An important part of this is understanding whether symptoms relate to the amount of a food consumed or how frequently it appears in the diet — see food intolerances.

Digestive changes after gastroenteritis or antibiotics

Another pattern we explore is when a child's bowel movements change following an episode of gastroenteritis or a course of antibiotics.

Antibiotics can alter the balance of bacteria living in the digestive tract, sometimes resulting in loose stools or changes in bowel habits. Following gastroenteritis, some children also experience temporary changes in digestion and food tolerance.

We pay particular attention to whether bowel movements returned to normal after the illness, or whether loose stools have continued. Understanding this history helps us identify when symptoms first began and what may be contributing to their persistence.

When loose stools may actually be constipation

Something that can surprise parents is that loose stools do not always mean food is moving freely through the bowel.

In some children, harder stools accumulate in the bowel while softer or liquid stool passes around the retained stool. This is sometimes called overflow soiling, and can be mistaken for diarrhoea.

We therefore ask whether a child also experiences large bowel movements, hard stools, withholding behaviours or periods without passing a stool. Distinguishing between diarrhoea and overflow associated with constipation matters, because the underlying causes and approaches are completely different.

What we encourage parents to observe

A food and bowel diary can provide valuable information. We encourage parents to record:

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  How frequently their child passes a bowel movement.

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  Whether stools are watery, loose, formed or contain mucus.

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  Any visible undigested food.

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  Foods consumed before symptoms occur.

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  Whether symptoms change with dairy, wheat or other frequently eaten foods.

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  Any recent gastroenteritis or antibiotic use.

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  Associated bloating, abdominal discomfort or changes in appetite.

Our clinical focus is on understanding why a child's bowel movements are persistently loose, identifying possible dietary and digestive contributors, and supporting the return of comfortable, predictable bowel habits alongside their existing care.

References

Clinical insights by Fiona Stock — Paediatric Naturopath & Children's Nutritionist, founder of The Children's Naturopath, with 28 years of clinical experience.